Militarization of Physical Culture and Sport in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Abstract

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is one of the most closed and self-isolated states today. The authoritarian political regime of the Kim dynasty totally militarized physical culture and sports. The country has a Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, the State Commission for the Management of Physical Culture and Sports, and various defense sports associations. The purpose of the militarization of these branches in domestic politics is to strengthen military power and national security, to consolidate the power of the Kim family, to instill the citizens’ responsibility for the country’s protection and defense, to control over their behavior. We consider the consequences of militarization in North Korea’s foreign policy and international relations to be a kind of “improvement” of the country’s international image, “militarization” of international tourism and attempts to destabilize the socio-political situation in the region.